GUIDELINES

FOR WRITING

RESEARCH RESULTS

A comprehensive guide to understanding the 

requirements of summary Research, Development 

and Technology reports.

Federal Railroad Administration

1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE

Washington, DC 20590

Revised October 2019

U.S. Deportment 

of Transportation 

Federal Railroad 

Administration 

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RESEARCH RESULTS 

FRA OFFICE OF RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT & TECHNOLOGY 
RESEARCH RESULTS i | Page

TABLE OF CONTENTS

OVERVIEW TO RESEARCH RESULTS..................................................................................... 1

FORMATTING & READABILITY .............................................................................................. 1

BASIC STRUCTURE OF RESEARCH RESULTS ...................................................................... 4

HEADER..................................................................................................................................... 4

TITLE OF REPORT ................................................................................................................... 4

SUMMARY ................................................................................................................................ 4

BACKGROUND......................................................................................................................... 5

OBJECTIVES ............................................................................................................................. 5

METHODS.................................................................................................................................. 5

RESULTS.................................................................................................................................... 5

CONCLUSIONS......................................................................................................................... 5

FUTURE ACTION ..................................................................................................................... 5

REFERENCES............................................................................................................................ 6

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS........................................................................................................... 6

CONTACT.................................................................................................................................. 6

KEYWORDS .............................................................................................................................. 6

CONTRACT NUMBER ............................................................................................................. 6

DISCLAIMER ............................................................................................................................ 6

FOOTER ..................................................................................................................................... 7

WRITING STYLE & REQUIREMENTS...................................................................................... 8

REPORT SUBMITTAL PROCEDURE....................................................................................... 10

U.S. Deportment 

of Tra nsportotion 

Federal Railroad 

Administration FRA OFFICE OF RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT & TECHNOLOGY 
RESEARCH RESULTS 1 | Page

OVERVIEW TO RESEARCH RESULTS

The Federal Railroad Administration’s (FRA) Office of Research, Development & Technology 

(RD&T) periodically produces brief, plain-language reports called Research Results that 

summarize the findings of projects associated with track, rolling stock, train control and

communications, or human factors research. 

These summary reports are written for nontechnical and technical audiences and include figures 

and tables. Research Results are intended to present the purpose for undertaking a given research 

project, methods used in the study and a brief description of findings and recommendations, if 

applicable. The publication of Research Results may be followed by a longer Technical Report

on the same study, which offers a more in-depth analysis of the research conducted, complete 

with technical specifications and results. However, they may also be used for intermediate 

project reporting after a significant milestone has been reached or in lieu of a full Technical 

Report for short projects.

The following guidelines are to assist Research Results author(s) with preparing drafts that meet

RD&T’s submission standards so that the drafts are ready for our internal review process, and 

can be approved for final publication on FRA’s eLibrary. 

FORMATTING & READABILITY

FRA’s Research Results Template is formatted to meet our agency’s report writing guidelines 

and standards. All Research Results draft submissions must use the Research Results Template. 

Draft submissions not formatted according to the template will be considered not meeting FRA’s 

report writing standards and thus, will be returned to the original author(s) for re-formatting. 

Research Results Formatting Requirements: 

• Limit to a maximum of four pages. 

• Submit reports in Microsoft Word XML .docx format. 

• “TITLE OF REPORT” should be all caps and on one line or two lines maximum.

• DO NOT modify heading styles, spacing, font, language preference (default set to: 

American English), image size or layout of the template: 

 1” margins 

 First level bullets are indented 0.25” from the left margin. Sub-bullets are 

indented an addition 0.25” for each descending bullet level.

 Arial 10-point font for text. See the template for details.

• Follow the GPO Style Manual requiring, among other things, one space between 

sentences. 

• Use the “built-in” bibliography feature. Learn how to add a citation and create a 

bibliography.

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Federal Railroad 

Administration 

RESEARCH RESULTS 

FRA OFFICE OF RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT & TECHNOLOGY 
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• Use “references” feature to insert references/citation. Learn how to add citations in a 

Word document.

• Follow APA’s references format. See the “REFERENCES” section for more details.

• Use the accessibility checker to ensure the Research Results is 508 compliant. Click here 

for information on how to Use the Accessibility Checker.

Figures & Tables

• Include at least three figures to illustrate or support the important points of the Research 

Results. ALL figures and tables must have a short caption and MUST include alt-text 

title/description. See this: Video: Improve accessibility with alt text. 

• Figures may be graphs, drawings, photographs, equations, etc.

• Equations should be captured as images and the alt-text should be spelled out as such: 

[g (meaning less than zero) equals K subscript C (fracture toughness of 

the material containing the flaw minus K subscript I (stress intensity factor dependent on 

the applied stress, flaw size, and geometry.]

o If the paragraph above or below the equation provides an adequate description of 

the equation then the alt-text can be, “See paragraph [above or below] equation 

for description.” 

• Figures are generally included in the Research Results’ Summary, Methods and Results 

sections.

• Tables MUST not have merged nor split cells and MUST have alt-text title/description. 

• We highly recommend not using tables in Research Results. If you do, convert tables to

figures for Research Results (that is, present the table as an image and annotate it as if it 

were a figure).

• Provide figures that are appropriate within the given context so readers may easily

interpret it. 

• If a contractor or other company owns the graphic and the graphic was never published, 

then you would add a copyright attribution under the graphic, e.g., © TTCI. 

• If the graphic is published and/or altered by the author then a copyright attribution should 

be added under the graphic and a reference citation should be added to the caption. 

Helpful Tips: 

• Keep figures simple.

• Number figures consecutively. 

• Images should be in png, jpeg, or jpg format. 

U.S. Deportment 

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Federal Railroad 

Administration FRA OFFICE OF RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT & TECHNOLOGY 
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• Background of figures should be white, not shaded; this helps to create the best contrast 

and make the information clearly discernable. 

Writing Guidance

• Strive for clarity, concision, accuracy, and objective tone. 

• Use American English, not UK English (e.g., center, not centre; behavior, not behaviour; 

organization, not organisation). 

• Maintain consistency with acronyms, abbreviations and terminology 

• For each section, ask: “Does this information belong here?” 

• Avoid using passive voice. 

• Check sentences for subject-verb agreement. 

• Apply the proper verb tense throughout the report (i.e., use past tense for research work 

completed in the past). 

• Follow publishing rules when it comes to accents.

• Run spell check in Microsoft Word prior to submitting the draft report.

• The draft report should read as if it is the work of one author. 

U.S. Deportment 

of Tra nsportotion 

Federal Railroad 

Administration FRA OFFICE OF RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT & TECHNOLOGY 
RESEARCH RESULTS 4 | Page

BASIC STRUCTURE OF RESEARCH RESULTS

These guidelines accompanying the Research Results Template will help determine whether the

right type and right level of information being presented in each section and subsections. I.e., 

does this information belong here? Research Results should answer for readers the questions of 

Who, What, Where, When, Why, and How. 

Every Research Results have the following elements and subsections:

• HEADER

• TITLE OF REPORT

• SUMMARY

• BACKGROUND

• OBJECTIVES

• METHODS

• RESULTS

• CONCLUSIONS

• FUTURE ACTION

• REFERENCES

• ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

• CONTACT

• KEYWORDS

• CONTRACT NUMBER

• DISCLAIMER

• FOOTER

HEADER

The Research Results Template header includes the FRA logo, Research Results logo and the 

Research Results document number. DO NOT modify this information or change the logo 

position. Note: The FRA Technical Writer/Editors generate the Research Results document 

number once the draft is finalized and prepared for publication. 

TITLE OF REPORT

Research Results are nontechnical and technical summaries of research findings, not full 

Technical Reports. Therefore, the title should not be the same as the one for the related Technical 

Report to be released afterwards. Instead, it should operate similar to a newspaper headline, by 

catching the readers’ attention and generating their interest to continue reading. 

SUMMARY

Approximately 250–300 words. This section is to deliver a high-level overview of the work 

undertaken in the research study and its outcome. It includes information on: 

• A synopsis of the main findings(s) from the research

U.S. Deportment 

of Tra nsportotion 

Federal Railroad 

Administration FRA OFFICE OF RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT & TECHNOLOGY 
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• The principal participants involved 

• The reason for undertaking the research

• The methodology applied 

• A condensed version of key conclusions reached

Include a figure in this section to help illustrate important points. Add alt text to figures. 

BACKGROUND

Approximately 200 words. This section establishes the context for initiating the research (e.g., 

in response to rail-related accidents or to a Congressional mandate to develop safer conditions), 

as well as which entities were involved in funding and participating in the project. Including 

references to prior related work (e.g., Technical Reports and previously published Research 

Results) is recommended. If applicable, also include a brief description of the researchers’ 

expected findings at the end of testing and inspection phases.

OBJECTIVES

Approximately 150 words. This section describes what the research is intended to achieve. A 

well-written objective is concise, reasonable, measurable and time-bound. 

METHODS

Approximately 150 words. Although discussion of methodology typically conveys highly 

technical information, it is important to keep in mind that the audience for Research Results will 

range from those with limited technical knowledge to those with highly specialized knowledge. 

Technical language and details are appropriate if the content remains comprehensible to a 

general audience. Include a figure in this section to illustrate the methods applied in the study. 

Do not forget to add alt-text to the figure.

RESULTS

Approximately 250 words. This is the main section of the Research Results to set out the 

findings or results from the study. 

Include an appropriate figure(s) in this section to help illustrate important points. Add alt text to 

all figures. 

CONCLUSIONS

Approximately 150 words. This section summarizes the chief takeaways and insights gained 

from the research, and reinforces for readers the value of the work undertaken and its future 

implication. If the results from the study were not definitive, future work or next steps may be 

recommended in the following section.

FUTURE ACTION

Maximum 1–2 paragraphs, approximately 50–75 words. If results from the study did not lead 

to definitive answers and further research work might be necessary or beneficial, then this 

section would outline recommended actions to take in the future, including any work currently 

being planned based upon the given Research Results study. 

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of Tra nsportotion 

Federal Railroad 

Administration FRA OFFICE OF RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT & TECHNOLOGY 
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REFERENCES

The Research Results Template is automatically formatted using the APA Citation Style. 

However, authors may choose to use the APA or IEEE Citation Style. Remember: Bibliographic 

citations must be accurate due to intellectual property law.

• Use the “built-in” bibliography feature to Add a citation and create a bibliography. The 

Research Results Template includes this feature.

• For information and guidance on APA Citation Style, visit APA. 

• For information and guidance on IEEE Citation Style, visit IEEE. 

• Verify bibliographic references, footnotes or bracketed citations and ensure all URL links 

work. 

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Maximum 1 paragraph, approximately 50–60 words. This section offers an opportunity to 

recognize the various individuals and organizations who participated in or contributed towards

the research project. 

FRA staff should not be acknowledged for providing funding. If appropriate, they can be 

acknowledged for technical contributions. 

CONTACT

Following the placeholders provided in the template, include the name, official title, complete 

business address, phone number, and email address of the primary point of contact for the 

project. This is typically the RD&T Program Manager who is operating as the FRA lead for the 

study. Listing a second point of contact is optional; it can be any other major collaborator who is 

also involved in the research or another FRA contact such as a RD&T Division Chief or 

Director. 

KEYWORDS

List any keywords pertinent to the subject matter of the report, including RD&T core subject 

matter terms (i.e., track research, rolling stock research, train and control communication, or 

human factors). If certain terms are being mentioned frequently, be sure to add them to the 

keywords. With the right set of keywords, readers have a greater likelihood of finding the 

Research Results when conducting a search in eLibrary. 

CONTRACT NUMBER

Enter all contract numbers as they appear, in the report, e.g., F33315-86-C-5169. Consult with 

the RD&T Program Manager about this information. Authors must fill in this information. 

DISCLAIMER

A standard disclaimer statement is required in the footer of Research Results. The Research 

Results Template is formatted to include this information. DO NOT modify the content of this 

disclaimer or change the position. 

U.S. Deportment 

of Tra nsportotion 

Federal Railroad 

Administration FRA OFFICE OF RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT & TECHNOLOGY 
RESEARCH RESULTS 7 | Page

FOOTER

The Research Results Template footer indicates the type of RD&T publication (i.e., Research 

Results) and the page number. This information is automatically updated. DO NOT modify this 

information or change the logo position. 

U.S. Deportment 

of Tra nsportotion 

Federal Railroad 

Administration FRA OFFICE OF RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT & TECHNOLOGY 
RESEARCH RESULTS 8 | Page

WRITING STYLE & REQUIREMENTS

U.S. Government Printing Office’s (GPO) Style Manual

For rules related to grammar, spelling, punctuation, and general form, FRA uses the U.S. 

Government Publishing Office’s (GPO) Style Manual as a reference guide. The latest edition 

(GPO Style Manual, 2016) is available for purchase at GPO’s Online Bookstore: United States 

Government Publishing Office Style Manual 2016 Paperback | U.S. Government Bookstore. It is 

also available free of charge on GPO’s website: 

Style Manual: An official guide to the form and style of Federal Government publishing 2016. 

Writing in Plain-Language

Writing in plain language is essential to helping readers with the following: 

• Finding key information

• Comprehending and interpreting key information 

• Using information to meet their needs

The more clearly and directly you communicate, the more likely your readers will understand the 

information you are trying to convey, and can appreciate the value of the research undertaken by 

your team. 

Helpful Hints: 

• Use common terminology, not code or jargon (e.g., Task Order) 

• Spell out acronyms at their first mention

To see how the plain-language approach improves the readability of a document, compare the 

examples below.

Before: The following enumerated summary is intended only to highlight certain 

information contained elsewhere in this report.

After: This summary highlights information contained in the report.

Before: Longitudinal rail stress (LRS) is caused by environmental temperature changes 

due to solar radiation and air convection in conjunction with the boundary constraints on 

continuous welded rail.

After: Longitudinal rail stress (LRS) is caused by the effects of heat and wind on 

constrained continuous welded rail.

For more information about the Federal government’s plain language initiative, visit the 

plainlanguage.gov website. 

508 Compliance

All FRA Research Results must be compliant with the requirements of Section 508 of the 

Rehabilitation Act, which mandates that all electronic documents be accessible to people with 

U.S. Deportment 

of Tra nsportotion 

Federal Railroad 

Administration FRA OFFICE OF RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT & TECHNOLOGY 
RESEARCH RESULTS 9 | Page

disabilities. Since the Research Results Template provided by your RD&T Program Manager is 

508 compliant and has been formatted to meet this requirement, DO NOT modify any 

formatting aspect of the template—including those related to fonts, heading styles, page 

numbering, table of contents, footnotes and/or endnotes, graphs and images, and bulleted lists, as

applicable. 

For more information on Section 508, visit Section508.gov | GSA Government-wide Section 508 

Accessibility Program. 

U.S. Deportment 

of Tra nsportotion 

Federal Railroad 

Administration FRA OFFICE OF RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT & TECHNOLOGY 
RESEARCH RESULTS 10 | Page

REPORT SUBMITTAL PROCEDURE

Once the drafting phase of the Research Results is completed, you are then ready to submit your 

document for RD&T’s internal editorial review process. In this section, we provide “Helpful 

Tips” and a “Submission Checklist” to assist you in preparing your document for final 

submission. 

After you submit the draft to the RD&T Program Manager leading the project, our Technical 

Editing Team will coordinate the editorial review process within RD&T to obtain approvals from 

the Program Manager, the Division Chief, and the Director. Important to keep in mind that as the 

draft continues to undergo further editorial review, the Program Manager may follow up with the 

author(s) regarding questions or issues that have come up during the editorial review. 

With the successful completion of the approval cycle, the Technical Editing Team prepares the 

document for final publication. The finalized PDF version is forwarded to our Web Master, who 

uploads the Research Results onto FRA’s eLibrary for public view. 

Helpful Tips: 

• Engage with your FRA Program Manager acting as the point of contact for your research 

study with any questions you might have about the Research Results’ style, formatting, 

template, etc. prior to the end of the period of performance of your contract. 

• Visit our eLibrary to view examples of recently published Research Results. 

Submission Checklist: 

 Did the authors use the Research Results Template and follow the guidelines provided by 

the RD&T Program Manager? 

 Is the content properly formatted according to the Research Results Template, such as 

using the correct font type and size? 

 Is the appropriate content entered into each subsection of the Research Results? (i.e., 

Summary, Background, Objectives, etc.) 

 Do each of the figures have meaningful alt-text descriptions?

 Do all URLs have descriptive hyperlinks? I.e., avoid generic phrases like “Click here” 

and instead, provide the title of the webpage to indicate the content of the linked page if 

readers were to click on the hyperlink and be re-directed. 

 Are all URLs linked to the correct Web destinations?

 Is the reference section properly formatted per the recognized standard (APA or IEEE)?

 Did the author(s) run spell check in Word one last time to catch any spelling or 

grammatical errors?

 Has the document been reviewed in Word’s Print Preview for a final visual check?

 Is the document saved as a Microsoft Word XML, .docx? 

U.S. Deportment 

of Tra nsportotion 

Federal Railroad 

Administration FRA OFFICE OF RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT & TECHNOLOGY 
U.S. Deportment 

of Tra nsportotion 

Federal Railroad 

Administration FRA OFFICE OF RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT & TECHNOLOGY 

RESEARCH RESULTS 11 | Page

 Did the author run an accessibility check and is the document fully accessible?